Mathematics Commons^™

A Study Of Quantitative Reasoning Instructors’ Choices And Motivations When Teaching Quantitative Reasoning For The First Time, Trish Ann Harding

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study delves into the instructional decision-making processes of post-secondary instructors teaching quantitative reasoning (QR) courses for the first time. The study aims to address the gap in understanding how first-time QR instructors navigate the complexities of curriculum design and pedagogical strategies, and how these experiences contribute to their professional development. The research questions center on identifying the instructional decisions made by these instructors, exploring the factors influencing their decision-making, and understanding the impact of exercising agency has on their professional development. Through in-depth exploration, this study seeks to shed light on the challenges and opportunities faced by first-time …

Approximation Via Degree Reduction Of Nonlinearities With Applications To Turbulent Flows, Flame Fronts, And Magnetohydrodynamics, Matthew Enlow

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

We perform an analytical and computational investigation on the effectiveness of a locally bounded truncation function, which we call a calming function, when applied to the nonlinear terms of several dissipative partial differential equations. In particular, the 3D Navier-Stokes equations of incompressible fluid flow, the 2D Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equations of laminar flame fronts, and the 2D MHD-Boussinesq equations of magnetohydrodynamics. Each of these equations have open questions about the global existence and uniqueness of their solutions. These calming functions effectively reduce the algebraic degree of select nonlinear terms, thus one can verify global wellposedness for these "calmed systems." More specifically, in …

Strategy-Proof Social Choice Functions On Condorcet Domains., Flannery Marie Musk Wells

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A social choice function is said to be strategy-proof if no voter has any motivation to lie about their true preference. Strategy-proofness is a desirable property of social choice functions so we consider here functions that always satisfy this property. We add to this property the additional desirable conditions of anonymity and neutrality and present domains on which we can get a characterization of majority rule as the only social choice function that satisfies these three properties. Furthermore, we consider what functions look like when we drop the condition of anonymity.

Deterministic Global 3d Fractal Cloud Model For Synthetic Scene Generation, Aaron M. Schinder, Shannon R. Young, Bryan J. Steward, Michael L. Dexter, Andrew Kondrath, Stephen Hinton, Ricardo Davila

Faculty Publications

This paper describes the creation of a fast, deterministic, 3D fractal cloud renderer for the AFIT Sensor and Scene Emulation Tool (ASSET). The renderer generates 3D clouds by ray marching through a volume and sampling the level-set of a fractal function. The fractal function is distorted by a displacement map, which is generated using horizontal wind data from a Global Forecast System (GFS) weather file. The vertical windspeed and relative humidity are used to mask the creation of clouds to match realistic large-scale weather patterns over the Earth. Small-scale detail is provided by the fractal functions which are tuned to …

Influence Of Parsimony And Work-Related Psychological Constructs In Predicting Turnover Intention When Using Machine Learning Vs Regression, Diego Figueiras

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This dissertation explores the ongoing debate between traditional statistical regression models and machine learning (ML) algorithms in predictive modeling, focusing on the impact of sample size and the number of variables. Study 1 investigates the relationship between sample size and predictive accuracy, proposing hypotheses regarding the advantages of ML over regression as sample size increases. Additionally, the study examines the influence of the number of variables on predictive accuracy, emphasizing the trade-off between ML and regression models. Using data from the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, the research aims to contribute insights into the conditions favoring each modeling approach. Study 2 …

Flipped Classroom For Linear Algebra At Undergraduate Level, M. Thulasidas

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In this article, we describe our experience in developing an undergraduate Linear Algebra course tailored to highlight its relevance and applicability in Computer Science. Over the course of three years, the course transitioned from a traditional direct-instruction format to a flipped-classroom design, resulting in positive student learning outcomes. This article covers the course design philosophy, its syllabus, learning objectives, and the incorporation of both quantitative and qualitative student feedback in shaping the course. Furthermore, the article shares the insights gleaned from our experience, which can serve as best practices for instructors aiming to deliver a successful Linear Algebra course for …

A Post-Quantum Mercurial Signature Scheme, Madison Mabe

All Theses

This paper introduces the first post-quantum mercurial signature scheme. We also discuss how this can be used to construct a credential scheme, as well as some practical applications for the constructions.

Weighted Ehrhart Theory: Extending Stanley's Nonnegativity Theorem, Esme Bajo, Robert Davis, Jesús A. De Loera, Alexey Garber, Sofía Garzón Mora, Katharina Jochemko, Josephine Yu

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

We generalize R. P. Stanley's celebrated theorem that the h∗-polynomial of the Ehrhart series of a rational polytope has nonnegative coefficients and is monotone under containment of polytopes. We show that these results continue to hold for weighted Ehrhart series where lattice points are counted with polynomial weights, as long as the weights are homogeneous polynomials decomposable as sums of products of linear forms that are nonnegative on the polytope. We also show nonnegativity of the h∗-polynomial as a real-valued function for a larger family of weights.

We generalize R. P. Stanley's celebrated theorem that the h ⁎ -polynomial of …

Representation Learning For Generative Models With Applications To Healthcare, Astronautics, And Aviation, Van Minh Nguyen

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores applications of representation learning and generative models to challenges in healthcare, astronautics, and aviation.

The first part investigates the use of Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) to synthesize realistic electronic health record (EHR) data. An initial attempt at training a GAN on the MIMIC-IV dataset encountered stability and convergence issues, motivating a deeper study of 1-Lipschitz regularization techniques for Auxiliary Classifier GANs (AC-GANs). An extensive ablation study on the CIFAR-10 dataset found that Spectral Normalization is key for AC-GAN stability and performance, while Weight Clipping fails to converge without Spectral Normalization. Analysis of the training dynamics provided further …

How To Explain Allen-Manandhar’S Method To Beginner Mathematicians : A Convergence Analysis Of A Hybrid Method For Variable-Coefficient Boundary Value Problems, Rebecca Scariano

Honors Theses

In this project, analogies are employed to make complex math concepts approachable to beginners who may only have a basic understanding of calculus and linear algebra. Serving as the focal point of this project, Allen-Manandhar’s method solves an equation, known as an ordinary differential equation (ODE). The mentioned equation with its coefficients is comparable to a pie recipe with ingredients. With the outcome to a recipe seen as its solution, the solution to our pie recipe is a perfectly baked pie, as in without error. The chosen method for baking a pie then classifies as its baking approach that when …

Inference For Time Series In Change Points And Statistical Learning, Jiaqi Li

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to develop a comprehensive framework for inference theory in time series, with a focus on change-point detection and online learning. First, we introduce an $\ell^2$-based inference approach for multiple change-point detection in high-dimensional time series, which targets dense or spatially clustered signals by a novel Two-Way MOSUM (moving sum) test statistic. We derive the limiting distribution of this $\ell^2$-aggregated statistic by extending the high-dimensional Gaussian approximation to non-stationary spatial-temporal processes. Simulation exhibits promising performance of our test in detecting non-sparse weak signals, and the application to COVID-19 analysis shows the real-world relevance of our method. Next, we …

Art And Math Via Cubic Polynomials, Polynomiography And Modulus Visualization, Bahman Kalantari

LASER Journal

Throughout history, both quadratic and cubic polynomials have been rich sources for the discovery and development of deep mathematical properties, concepts, and algorithms. In this article, we explore both classical and modern findings concerning three key attributes of polynomials: roots, fixed points, and modulus. Not only do these concepts lead to fertile ground for exploring sophisticated mathematics and engaging educational tools, but they also serve as artistic activities. By utilizing innovative practices like polynomiography—visualizations associated with polynomial root finding methods—as well as visualizations based on polynomial modulus properties, we argue that individuals can unlock their creative potential. From crafting captivating …

A Discussion On Estimation Of The Best Constant For Spherical Restriction Inequalities, Hongyi Liu

Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science Honors Projects

The restriction conjecture asks for a meaningful restriction of the Fourier transform of a function to a sufficiently curved lower dimensional manifold. It then conjectures certain size estimates for this restriction in terms of the size of the original function. It has been proven in 2 dimensions, but it is open in dimensions 3 and larger, and is an area of much recent active effort. In our study, instead of aiming to prove the restriction conjecture, we target understanding its worst-case scenarios within known estimates. Specifically, we investigate the extension operator applied to antipodally concentrating profiles, examining the ratio of …

Classification Of Topological Defects In Cosmological Models, Abigail Swanson

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

In nature, symmetries play an extremely significant role. Understanding the symmetries of a system can tell us important information and help us make predictions. However, these symmetries can break and form a new type of symmetry in the system. Most notably, this occurs when the system goes through a phase transition. Sometimes, a symmetry can break and produce a tear, known as a topological defect, in the system. These defects cannot be removed through a continuous transformation and can have major consequences on the system as a whole. It is helpful to know what type of defect is produced when …

An Investigation Into The Causes Of Home Field Advantage In Professional Soccer, Paige E. Tomer

Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science Honors Projects

Home-field advantage is the sporting phenomenon in which the home team outperforms the away team. Despite its widespread occurrence across sports, the underlying reasons for home-field advantage remain uncertain. In this paper, we employ a range of statistical methods to explore the causal relationships of potential determinants of home-field advantage. We measure home-field advantage using match outcomes and differential metrics (e.g., differences in yellow cards received). In an attempt to narrow the research disparity between men’s and women’s sports, we utilize data from the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the English Premier League (EPL) to investigate potential causes of …

Representation Theory And Burnside's Theorem, Nathan Fronk

Senior Seminars and Capstones

In this paper we give a brief introduction to the representation theory of finite groups, and by extension character theory. These tools are extensions of group theory into linear algebra, that can then be applied back to group theory to prove propositions that are based entirely in group theory. We discuss the importance of simple groups and the Jordan-Hölder theorem in order to prepare for the statement of Burnside’s pq theorem. Lastly, we provide a proof of Burnside’s theorem that utilizes the character theory we covered earlier in the paper.

Largeness And Accessibility Of Sparse Sets, Oscar Quester

Honors Program Theses and Projects

One of the main goals in the study of Ramsey Theory is to find “order” in seemingly “random” structures. For example, Van der Waerden’s Theorem tells us that given any r-coloring of the positive integers, there will exist arbitrarily long monochromatic arithmetic progressions. The theorem places no requirement on the gap (common difference), d, of the arithmetic progression – it can be any natural number. With this in mind, we ask if we are still guaranteed arbitrarily long monochromatic arithmetic progressions when we restrict the possible values of d to some subset D ⊆ N. We also ask a similar …

A Tale Of Two Toroidal Graphs, Akshat Gulgulia

Honors Theses

A graph is toroidal if it can be embedded on a torus which is a doughnut-shaped surface. Two well-known examples of toroidal graphs are the complete graph K5 and the complete bipartite graph K3,3. In this thesis we elucidate the association of the subject matter with two renowned enigmas in graph theory, namely the Five Princes Problem and the Three Utilities Problems. Additionally, we look at their association with several renowned theorems in topological graph theory. We explore the link between these two graphs and a contemporary labeling concept.

Numerical Investigation To Produce A Fundamental Polygon, Elizabeth Sipes

Honors College Theses

There exist multiple types of geometry, differing in the postulates they are based on, and therefore the theorems and proofs that make up said geometry. Hyperbolic geometry differs from others by allowing there to exist multiple lines through a single point not on a given line, that are parallel to the given line. Every geometry has the idea of distance and isometries, distance preserving maps. By considering special collections of isometries called discrete groups, we can construct interesting surfaces, such as the torus and genus-g surface. The connection between the surface and the discrete group can be understood through …

Euler Archive Spotlight: Multiple Search Options, Christopher Goff

Euleriana

The Euler Archive houses PDF versions of almost all of Euler's original publications. While most visitors search the archive via a work's Eneström number, the Archive can be searched via source publication name, date written, or decade of publication. The Archive also provides context for Euler's publications through short pieces of historical information.

Euler And A Proof Of The Functional Equation For The Riemann Zeta-Function He Could Have Given, Alexander Aycock

Euleriana

We explain how Euler could have proved a functional equation, which is equivalent to the one for the Riemann zeta-function, that he conjectured in his paper {\it ``Remarques sur un beau rapport entre les series des puissances tant directes que reciproques"} \cite{E352} (E352: ``Remarks on the beautiful relation between the series of the direct and reciprocal powers").

Euler And The Gaussian Summation Formula For The Hypergeometric Series, Alexander Aycock

Euleriana

We show that in his paper {\it ``Plenior expositio serierum illarum memorabilium, quae ex unciis potestatum binomii formantur"} \cite{E663} (E663: ``A more thorough exposition of those memorable series that are formed from the binomial coefficients") Euler could have found the Gaussian summation formula for the hypergeometric series from his own formulas in that same paper, if he actually set the task for himself.

Euler And Homogeneous Difference Equations With Linear Coefficients, Alexander Aycock

Euleriana

We present a method outlined by Euler in his paper{\it ``De fractionibus continuis observationes"} \cite{E123} (E123: ``Observations on continued fractions") that can be used to solve homogeneous difference equations with linear coefficients. We will illustrate his ideas by applying it to two familiar examples and explain how it can be understood from a more modern point of view.

On The Cases In Which The Formula X^4+Kxxyy+Y^4 Can Be Reduced To A Square, Georg Ehlers

Euleriana

Euler’s key idea for equating the Quartic in the title to a square is to set k=P+surd(Q). From this he derives P=f·x^2 and Q=4f·y^2+4 and solves the Pell equation for y. He then discusses various extensions to rational numbers that leave k an integer. Euler provides incomplete tables for integers k with |k|square.

Research On Arithmetic, Erik R. Tou

Euleriana

In this English translation, some of Joseph-Louis Lagrange's early number theory is presented. Here, he laid out a theory of binary quadratic forms with special attention to the representation problem: determining those integers which may be represented by a given form, and cataloguing the possible forms of their divisors.

Number Theory And More, Christopher Goff, Erik Tou

Euleriana

An introduction to the contents in Issue 1, Volume 4 of Euleriana.

Caterpillar, Lobster, X Graphs, Gerald Melin, Landon Seward, Will Mahowald, Xavier Jones

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

We studied a combinatorial game played between two players ("Alpha", who goes first, and "Beta", who goes second). The idea is that there are a lot of lightbulbs in a large warehouse, and they take turns turning a light bulb on. When a light bulb is turned on, it illuminates the area directly by it as well as the areas immediately surrounding it. The player who is the one to make all of the warehouse illuminated is the winner. This can be modeled on a graph. The two players take turns (1) selecting a vertex that has not yet been …

Finite State And Sequential Automata, Kriti Gulgulia

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Skeletal 2-Groups And Category Theory, Nicholas Small '25, Alexander Stepanov '26, Haley Waiksnis '25

Mathematics & Computer Science Student Scholarship

Nicholas Small ’25, Mathematics and Computer Science major
Alexander Stepanov ’26, Mathematics and Studio Art major
Haley Waiksnis ’25, Mathematics major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Laura Murray, Mathematics and Computer Science

Autonomous Remote Erosion Monitoring Using Computer Vision, Emily Gelchie '24, Gabriel Benz '25

Mathematics & Computer Science Student Scholarship

Emily Gelchie ’24, Computer Science major
Gabriel Benz ’25, Computer Science major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Martin Helwig, Mathematics and Computer Science